Bordeaux: The Bitter Finish by Janet Hubbard is the second in her Vengeance in the Vineyard Series. New York Times bestseller Craig Johnson, author of Champagne: A Farewell says this mystery 'Has the character of a fine wine, sparkling, flavorful, with just a touch of malice.'

NYPD detective Max Maguire returns to France, acting as bodyguard to a famous wine critic. The critic turns up dead in her hotel suite and an expensive, rare magnum of wine goes missing. Max again teams up with Olivier Chaumont who is an examining magistrate as well as her ex-lover.

At times, I had trouble accepting Max as feminine. The name threw me. Don't know why. Anyway, Max, taught aggressive tactics by her father who had been a homicide detective, steps into the investigation of the poisoning death of the woman she had been sent to France to protect. Olivier, whom she had worked with before, appreciates the finer things of life and he and Max have several meals I wouldn't mind enjoying myself.

Counterfeit wine has been showing up at the auction houses in Bordeaux. Authentically old bottles filled with cheap new wine have been going for astronomically high prices at auction. Connection to the murder?

We, the readers learn of the world of fine wine. Sounds very elite and one must be knowledgeable to a certain extent to truly appreciate the scope of wines available. I'm afraid most of the talk of wines went over my head (a house red almost always works for me) but I enjoyed feeling as if I know a little more about this wonderful beverage than most. A good book well-written.

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